Editor's letter

"Expand or die" was the prevailing attitude in 15th-century Europe, and so began a 500-year process of empire-building throughout the rest of the world. Our Inside Story this week charts the early stages of this very human, often sorry tale of people, politics and power (page 12).

It was on a visit to Zimbabwe that Chris Ofili first became aware of the legacy of colonialism. It was a turning point in the career of an artist now famous for covering his canvases with elephant dung, used to spectacularly beautiful effect in paintings such as "Afrodizzia" (page 10).

Places can have a powful influence on us. Read how pupils can be inspired to really look (pages 8 and 19).

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